Reusable multi-purpose bag formed of nonwoven fibrous material

Abstract

Described herein is a reusable, multi-purpose bag, comprising a flexible, resiliently deformable body comprising a first material and a second material. The first material has a first degradation temperature and an absorption ratio of at least two to one of absorbed water weight to bag weight. The first material forms an anterior panel and a posterior panel, and the anterior panel is coupled to the posterior panel to define a cavity therebetween. The second material has a second degradation temperature that is lower than the first degradation temperature, and at least a portion of the anterior panel is bonded to at least a portion of the posterior panel by the second material.

I claim: 
     
       1. A reusable, multi-purpose bag, comprising:
 a flexible, resiliently deformable body comprising:
 a first porous material having a first degradation temperature and an absorption ratio of at least two to one of absorbed water weight to bag weight, the first porous material forming an anterior panel and a posterior panel, the anterior panel positioned adjacent to the posterior panel to define a cavity therebetween; and 
 a discrete strip of heat-sealed bonding agent material having a melting temperature that is lower than the first degradation temperature, 
 
 wherein the discrete strip of heat-sealed bonding agent material is positioned between at least a portion of the anterior panel and at least a portion of the posterior panel, the discrete strip of heat-sealed bonding agent material between the at least a portion of the anterior panel and the at least a portion of the posterior panel sealing the anterior panel to the posterior panel, and wherein the first porous material and the heat-sealed bonding agent material can withstand washing in soap and water while retaining the bond between the first material and heat-sealed bonding agent material. 
 
     
     
       2. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 1 , wherein the discrete strip of heat-sealed bonding agent material comprises a thickness of at least 0.5 mils. 
     
     
       3. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 1 , further including a longitudinal axis extending from an upper edge of the first material to a lower edge of the first material, wherein the longitudinal axis is substantially parallel with a machine direction of the first material that comprises a weight-bearing axis of the body. 
     
     
       4. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a nonwoven fibrous material. 
     
     
       5. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 4 , wherein the first material comprises a mixture of polymer fibers and pulp fibers. 
     
     
       6. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 5 , wherein the ratio of polymer fibers to pulp fibers in the first material is approximately 5:7. 
     
     
       7. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first material has a weight of at least 50 grams per square meter. 
     
     
       8. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 1 , further including at least one sidewall formed of the first porous material by the coupling of the anterior panel and the posterior panel along a longitudinally-oriented side seam. 
     
     
       9. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 8 , further comprising a handle defined in the first porous material, the handle formed as an aperture through the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
       10. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 8 , further including a gusset formed by the inward folding of the at least one sidewall, wherein the discrete strip of heat-sealed bonding agent material is disposed on an exterior surface of the body within the gusset to seal the gusset. 
     
     
       11. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 1 , further comprising an inked design applied to the first material and coated with an overprint-varnish. 
     
     
       12. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 1 , further comprising an antimicrobial agent applied to the first material. 
     
     
       13. A reusable, multi-purpose bag, comprising:
 a flexible, resiliently deformable body formed of a porous nonwoven fibrous material having an absorption ratio of at least two to one of absorbed water weight to bag weight, the body comprising:
 an anterior panel of the porous nonwoven fibrous material including a first upper edge and a first lower edge; 
 a posterior panel the porous nonwoven fibrous material including a second upper edge and a second lower edge, the anterior panel being coupled to the posterior panel by a bonding agent applied between the anterior panel and the posterior panel and defining a cavity therebetween, the bonding agent being different than the nonwoven fibrous material; and 
 a longitudinal axis comprising a weight-bearing axis of the body extending from the first upper edge to the first lower edge substantially in parallel with a machine direction of the nonwoven fibrous material; 
 
 an opening between the first upper edge and the second upper edge, the opening in communication with the cavity; and 
 a bag handle defined by an opening in a portion of the porous nonwoven fibrous material adjacent the first and second upper edges of the porous nonwoven fibrous material, the opening being spaced from the first and second lower edges along the longitudinal axis substantially in parallel to the machine direction, 
 wherein the porous nonwoven fibrous material comprises a nonwoven mixture of polymer fibers and pulp fibers. 
 
     
     
       14. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 13 , wherein the bonding agent has a lower melting temperature than the nonwoven fibrous material and the bonding agent melts onto the nonwoven fibrous material and hardens to bond at least a portion of the anterior panel to at least a portion of the posterior panel. 
     
     
       15. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 13 , wherein the nonwoven fibrous material comprises a mixture of polymer fibers and pulp fibers. 
     
     
       16. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 13 , wherein the handle incorporates at least one of the first upper edge and the second upper edge and is disposed on a sidewall formed where the anterior panel is longitudinally coupled to the posterior panel. 
     
     
       17. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 13 , further including a gusseted sidewall formed by the coupling and folding of the anterior panel and the posterior panel along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       18. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 17 , wherein the bonding agent is applied to an exterior surface of the body to seal at least a portion of the anterior panel to at least a portion of the posterior panel and form the gusseted sidewall. 
     
     
       19. A reusable, multi-purpose bag, comprising:
 a flexible, resiliently deformable body formed of a nonwoven fibrous material having a degradation temperature and an absorption ratio of at least two to one of absorbed water weight to bag weight, the body comprising:
 an anterior panel including a first upper edge and a first lower edge; 
 a posterior panel including a second upper edge and a second lower edge, the anterior panel coupled to the posterior panel to define a cavity therebetween; and 
 a discrete strip of heat-sealed bonding agent disposed between the anterior panel and the posterior panel to seal the anterior panel to the posterior panel, wherein the bonding agent has a lower melting temperature than the degradation temperature of the nonwoven fibrous material and the discrete strip melts onto the nonwoven fibrous material and bonds the anterior panel to the posterior panel; 
 
 an opening between the first upper edge and the second upper edge, the opening in communication with the cavity; 
 a handle defined by an opening in the nonwoven fibrous material adjacent the first and second upper edges; and 
 a longitudinal axis extending from the first upper edge to the first lower edge. 
 
     
     
       20. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 19 , further comprising a gusset formed on the body, wherein the discrete strip of heat-sealed bonding agent is disposed on an exterior surface of the body to seal at least a portion of the anterior panel to at least a portion of the posterior panel and form the gusset, and wherein the discrete strip of heat-sealed bonding agent comprises a thickness of at least 0.5 mils. 
     
     
       21. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 19 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the body is substantially in parallel with a machine direction of the nonwoven fibrous material comprising a weight-bearing axis of the body. 
     
     
       22. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 19 , wherein the bag has a material strength sufficient to carry a weight of at least twenty-two pounds for a distance of at least 21,875 feet without developing a tear of 3 centimeters or greater in the nonwoven fibrous material. 
     
     
       23. A reusable, multi-purpose bag, comprising:
 a flexible, resiliently deformable body formed of a nonwoven fibrous material, the body comprising:
 an anterior panel of the nonwoven fibrous material including a first upper edge and a first lower edge; 
 a posterior panel of the nonwoven fibrous material including a second upper edge and a second lower edge, the anterior panel coupled to the posterior panel to define a cavity therebetween; 
 a bonding agent, the bonding agent applied between the anterior panel and the posterior panel to seal the anterior panel to the posterior panel, the bonding agent having a lower degradation temperature than the nonwoven fibrous material; and 
 a longitudinal axis extending from the first upper edge to the first lower edge substantially in parallel with a machine direction of the nonwoven fibrous material; 
 
 an opening between the first upper edge and the second upper edge, the opening in communication with the cavity; and 
 a handle defined by an opening in a portion of the nonwoven fibrous material extending in parallel with the machine direction from the first and second lower edges to above the opening of the handle, the opening being spaced from the first and second lower edges along the longitudinal axis in parallel with the machine direction, wherein the handle incorporates at least one of the first upper edge and the second upper edge and is disposed on a sidewall formed adjacent where the anterior panel is longitudinally coupled to the posterior panel. 
 
     
     
       24. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 23 , wherein the nonwoven fibrous material has an absorption ratio of at least two to one of absorbed water weight to bag weight. 
     
     
       25. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 23 , wherein the bonding agent is disposed between the anterior panel and the posterior panel in a longitudinal strip that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bag to form a side seam. 
     
     
       26. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 25 , wherein the bonding agent is disposed between the first upper edge and the second upper edge in a longitudinal strip that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bag. 
     
     
       27. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 26 , further comprising a gusset on the body, wherein the bonding agent is disposed on an exterior surface of the body to seal at least a portion of the anterior panel to at least a portion of the posterior panel and form the gusset. 
     
     
       28. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 1 , wherein the discrete strip of second material comprises a pre-cut width. 
     
     
       29. The reusable, multipurpose bag of  claim 13 , wherein the bonding agent comprises a discrete strip comprising a pre-cut width.